Author Ben Raymond, Who Put Himself In Foster Care As A Teen, Offers Advice To Brothers Who Claim They Were Abandoned By Their Mom

Ben Raymond says that because of his family situation, he decided to put himself in foster care in eighth grade. After living with three different families, he says he finally found a family that gave him the stability, rules, love and attention he needed.

“I know you guys have said you want to keep your mother out of your life, and with my mother and my father, I tried to control the situation. There’s plenty of times that I wanted to check out from my mother, my father, facing rejection,” Ben tells the brothers. “But what I didn’t realize is that it was on my heart. Whether you guys cut her off or not, it’s going to be on your heart.”

He continues, “I think for me, I had to realize that I could still love my father and I could still love my mother, not necessarily what they were doing, but they were my mother and my father. And for me to let go and put boundaries in place.”

Hear more of Ben’s life story – and advice -- in the video above. This episode of Dr. Phil airs Tuesday. Watch more here.